Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bismarck, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bismarck, ND

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.4% cheaper than Bismarck, ND without rent, and 21.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 20.1% more expensive than Bismarck, ND without rent, and 40.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Bismarck, ND
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$41.71 $41.71
-50.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$73.7 $73.7
36.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$14.62 $14.62
-18.13%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.05 $5.05
10.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.31 $2.31
34.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.81 $1.81
33.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.03 $6.03
13.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.86 $6.86
23.18%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Bismarck, ND
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.1 $1.1
-5.45%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.6 $2.6
59.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.31 $4.31
28.07%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.17 $4.17
11.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.04 $12.04
19.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.33 $14.33
3.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.59 $15.59
24.05%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.97 $4.97
4.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.63 $1.63
4.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.33 $4.33
1.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.79 $4.79
-5.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.9 $2.9
-12.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.81 $2.81
-2.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.09 $2.09
16.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.13 $2.13
26.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.38 $8.38
81.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.75 $14.75
11.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.85 $1.85
27.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.39 $3.39
9.14%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Bismarck, ND
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.03 $2.03
24.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.4 $3.4
-1.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.64 $1.64
-13.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.34 $29.34
-13.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.84 $0.84
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.9K $29.9K
8.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.2K $25.2K
3.87%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Bismarck, ND
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$186 $186
1.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$70.9 $70.9
-10.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$90.9 $90.9
-28.27%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Bismarck, ND
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.78 $43.78
75.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.53 $13.53
10.35%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Bismarck, ND
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,317 $1,317
56.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.7K $23.7K
65.54%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Bismarck, ND
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$50.6 $50.6
27.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.7 $40.7
28.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$66.5 $66.5
43.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$113 $113
28.50%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Bismarck, ND
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,204 $1,204
97.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$984 $984
60.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,620 $1,620
194.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,157 $1,157
143.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,029 $2,029
76.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,000 $2,000
24.52%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Bismarck, ND
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,732 $3,732
41.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
7.13
-7.43%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Bismarck, ND: October 28, 2025

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